Who's the Buell expert out there? There was a reference: "instead of the other Buells’ Italian Verlicchi chassis" that surprised me. I certainly don't know Buells as well as HDs, but I had no idea they sourced a frame! I always thought their innovative frames was their forte. I guess you learn something new every day, if you stay relatively sober. Details? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller??

Hey Ken, It was outsourced. It was designed by Buell but made by the Italians. Economics, I guess. Anyway, it's all been moved in house now. Guess the design has paid for itself and it can be made here for the same money they spent for the Italian's work.

Everyone that has giving Buell crap for the "tractor" motor can now gleefully run down and buy a "proper" American Sportbike. Time to step up to the plate and buy American.

Wait for the Sporty XR version coming to a showroom near you. Figure a re-tuned version for 110-115 hp w/ 90ft lbs torque. Showa Inverted with Buell brakes- Daaaaamn, that'd be trick. YOU GUYS AT HD LISTENING!!!!!

__________________
"Slack" - a state of being in which everything flows smoothly.....a frame of mind so at ease that the universe naturally cooperates.

"Subsequently, a lighter wheel can be used, with lighter steering as the benefit. I can only hope other makes will grasp this concept, soon."

Not quite. The ZTL system makes for HEAVIER steering...

It reduces the unsprung weight of the wheel (lighter spokes, which makes the suspension happier), but it increases the rotational inertia (larger diameter brake disk). Thus at higher speeds, the wheel resists changing direction more, effectively acting as a speed sensitive damper.

Until Honda came out with the electronic damper, it was the best solution for speed-sensitive damping (the electronic damper allows a non-linear rate, unlike the ZTL which is a linear-rate speed-sensitive damper)

Its why the previous buells were able to get away with such little rake without a damper: the wheel is a damper with its greater rotational inertia.

You might want to take that argument up with Buell, an engineer/designer, himself.

A quote from Buell materials in re ZTL brakes (perimeter mounted):

"This allows for the design of an extremely light wheel, reducing steering inertia and unsprung weight for exceptional feel and agility."

And yes, I realize such "materials" often say what sellers of product want them to say. But I'm certain Erik Buell would agree with the copy... the brake is his idea.

__________________"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon." --W.C. Fields

Another HD Italian connection...reminds me of Aermacchi. This power plant and it's technologic innovations really do open a lot of great opportunities for HD, IF they choose to take them. There were a lot of people expecting, even clamoring for, the Revolution engine to be put into more platforms, but that never happened. I think a lot of HD execs break into a cold sweat when they consider straying too far from the tried and true pushrod, aircooled, V-Twin paradigm.

Shows you what one guy can do with a dream and some ideas as long as he's not encumbered by nosy bean counters, Boards of Directors and marketing "experts". Some other companies I could name could revitalize their moribund model lines this way.

__________________
"Make no mistake, Communism lost a big argument - one we know today as the 20th century."

The Wrecking Crew here doesn't sound too convinced that this new Buell is the shyt. That is bad news, because he is marketing this bike directly at most of the guys here. It looks nice enough, but I still don't think this will sell any better than the old one. I think the Euros might go for this one in a big way.

The Wrecking Crew here doesn't sound too convinced that this new Buell is the shyt. That is bad news, because he is marketing this bike directly at most of the guys here. It looks nice enough, but I still don't think this will sell any better than the old one. I think the Euros might go for this one in a big way.

All those guys said they wanted a liquid cooled Buell really bad! You don't think they are going to run out and buy them? You mean I was right when I predicted (heh heh) that when Eric did put out a sportbike with a "proper" engine the same guys would just think of other excuses not to get one?

__________________
"Make no mistake, Communism lost a big argument - one we know today as the 20th century."